Police charge father, son with hosting underage drinking party

Police arrested a teenager and his father Saturday after responding to reports of an underage drinking party in East Goshen, police said Monday.

Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police were called about 11:15 p.m. Saturday after receiving reports of a rowdy party in the 1600 block of Bow Tree Drive. Police found several people who appeared to be underage outside the house holding beer bottles, officials said.

Police said officers approached the residence and observed juveniles drinking from beer bottles and plastic cups. After police arrived, the party moved to the basement and out of sight of officers, officials said.

At one point, police said, a parent of a 16-year-old girl arrived and said that the teen was inside the party. The parent told police that the girl refused to come outside after being asked by the parent, officials said. Another parent arrived and told police he had been unable to contact his 15-year-old daughter.

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Police determined that one teen seen outside the party was 18-year-old Elliot Bonner, the son of the home’s owner. His father, Raymond Bonner, was inside the house while the party was under way, police said.

After an hour of repeatedly attempting to make contact with people inside the party, police entered the residence out of concern for several juveniles whose parents had been unable to contact them.

Police said 19 underage people were found inside the home, and all had consumed alcoholic beverages. According to police, 17 of the people at the party were under the age of 18, and the youngest was 14 years old.

One teen was found unconscious and covered in vomit, police said. He was treated by EMS units at the residence and released to his parents.

Parents of the juveniles were contacted and instructed to pick up their children, police said.

Elliot and Raymond Bonner were arrested and charged with two counts of interference with the custody of children, 16 counts of endangering the welfare of children, 16 counts of corruption of minors and 18 counts of selling or furnishing liquor to minors, police said.

Both suspects were arraigned at district court and released after posting $20,000 bail, according to police.

Officials said the teens observed at the party would be cited for underage drinking.